Brake assembly for a height-adjustable walker apparatus

ABSTRACT

A brake assembly for a height-adjustable walker apparatus is provided. The brake assembly includes a brake actuator, a wheel-engaging brake member and a brake cable assembly. The brake cable assembly includes a flexible, inner cable. The brake cable assembly includes a flexible, outer casing through which the inner cable extends and is moveable relative to. The inner cable has a first end coupled to the brake actuator and a second end coupled to the wheel-engaging brake member. The brake assembly includes a brake cable housing shaped to enclose a slack portion of the brake cable assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY

This application is based on provisional application Ser. No.62/213,566, filed Sep. 2, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference and to which priority is claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

There is provided a brake assembly. In particular, there is provided abrake assembly for a height-adjustable walker apparatus.

Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,325,561 to Lynn discloses a transport table withtelescoping members 38 and 40 as seen in FIG. 1 thereof. The tableincludes wheels 44 with brakes 59 which are actuated via cable wires 57and 61. In order to allow the telescoping members 38 and 40 to extendbetween an extended position and a retracted position out of the rearlegs 34 and 36, the cable wires 57 and 61 are provided with slack so asto not interfere with this operation. This length or slack is providedby looping the cable wires 57 and 61 at the lower end of the telescopingmembers 38 and 40.

However, the above system may result in cable wires that are susceptibleto being entangled with other objects or a person's clothing, forexample. In such cases, the wire may be subject to premature wear anddamage. Also, such a configuration of cable wires may inhibit safeoperation of the transport table by causing persons adjacent thereto tobecome entangled and/or fall down, for example.

International Patent Publication Number WO 2004/073578 to Lonkvist todiscloses a wheeled walker. The walker includes a frame member 2 havinga lower end 3, a handle support rod 4 having an upper end 5, and abrake-control means 6 arranged at the upper end of the handle supportrod. The brake-control means is movable between a neutral position and abrake-application position. The walker includes a wheel 7 located at thelower end 3 of the frame member. The distance between the wheel 7 andthe brake-control means 6 is changeable. The walker includes a brakeelement 8 located adjacent the wheel 7. An upper force-transmissionmember 9 is connected to the brake-control means 6 and disposed withinthe frame member 2. A lower force-transmission member 10 is connected tothe brake element 8 and disposed within the frame member 2. There isalso provided a coupling means 11 for coupling-together the upper andthe lower force-transmission members 9, 10. The upper force-transmissionmember and the lower force-transmission member are arranged to movefreely relative to one another when the brake-control means 6 assumesits neutral position. The upper force-transmission member 9 and thelower force-transmission member 10 are arranged to be interconnected bymeans of the coupling means 11 when the brake-control means 6 leaves theneutral position in response to which braking force is transferred tothe brake element 8.

However, such a system may be complicated, require many parts and thusbe relative expensive to manufacture, for example.

There may accordingly be a need for an improved brake cable assembly fora walker apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

There is accordingly provided a brake assembly for a height-adjustablewalker apparatus. The brake assembly includes a brake actuator, awheel-engaging brake member and a brake cable assembly. The brake cableassembly includes a flexible, inner cable. The brake cable assemblyincludes a flexible, outer casing through which the inner cable extendsand is moveable relative thereto. The inner cable has a first endcoupled to the brake actuator and a second end coupled to thewheel-engaging brake member. The brake assembly includes a brake cablehousing shaped to enclose a slack portion of the brake cable assembly.

There is also provided a walker apparatus. The walker apparatus includesa length-adjustable assembly of elongate members. The length-adjustableassembly has an upper end, a lower end spaced-apart from the upper end,and an aperture interposed between the upper end and the lower endthereof. The walker apparatus includes a brake actuator operativelyconnected to the upper end of the length-adjustable assembly. The walkerapparatus includes a wheel-engaging brake member operatively connectedto the lower end of the length-adjustable assembly. A brake cablehousing operatively connects to the length-adjustable assembly at alocation between the brake actuator and the wheel-engaging brake member.The walker apparatus includes a brake cable assembly. The brake cableassembly includes a flexible, inner cable. The brake cable assemblyincludes a flexible, outer casing through which the inner cable extendsand is moveable relative thereto. The inner cable has a first endoperatively connected to the brake actuator and a second end operativelyconnected to the wheel-engaging brake member. The brake cable assemblyis primarily enclosed within the length-adjustable assembly. A slackportion of the brake cable assembly extends through the aperture of thelength-adjustable assembly and is enclosed within the brake cablehousing.

There is further provided a cable housing for bowden cable. The cablehas a first end coupled to a first portion of an elongate assembly. Thecable has a second end coupled to a second portion of the assembly.Positioning of the second portion of the assembly relative to the firstportion of the assembly is adjustable. The housing is shaped to enclosea loop-shaped portion of the cable which is interposed between the firstand the second ends thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription of preferred embodiments thereof given, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top, front perspective view of a walker apparatus accordingto one aspect, the walker apparatus including a folding mechanism, aseat assembly, and a brake assembly, the brake assembly including a pairof spaced-apart brake cable housings;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view thereof, the left side elevationview of the walker apparatus being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of one of theground-engageable wheels of the walker apparatus of FIG. 1, togetherwith a wheel fork thereof and a wheel-engaging brake member for thebrake assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partially fragmented, cross-sectional viewof the interior of a handle bar assembly of the walker apparatus of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a top, front perspective view of the walker apparatus of FIG.1, with the brake cable housings thereof being removed;

FIG. 7 is an outer side elevation view of one of the brake cablehousings of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an inner side elevation view thereof;

FIG. 9 is a top, rear, side perspective view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a bottom, rear, side perspective view thereof;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view thereof;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a rear, top perspective view thereof, the brake cable housingcomprising two half sections with the half sections of the brake cablehousing being angled apart relative to each to reveal features of theinterior of the brake cable housing;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of the brake cable housing of FIG. 7, withone of the half sections of the housing being removed to reveal theinterior of the housing, and a fragmented view of a telescoping assemblyand laterally-extending elongate side members of one side of the walkerapparatus of FIG. 1, the telescoping assembly and part of the brakecable housing being shown partially in ghost;

FIG. 15 is a side, front perspective view of the walker apparatus ofFIG. 14, with the folding mechanism and seat assembly not being shown,with telescoping tubes of the walker apparatus being shown in aretracted position and a brake cable extending therethrough being shownin ghost;

FIG. 16 is a side, front perspective view similar to FIG. 15 of thewalker apparatus of FIG. 15, with the folding mechanism and seatassembly not being shown, with the telescoping tubes of the walkerapparatus being shown in an extended position and with brake cableextending therethrough being shown in ghost; and

FIG. 17 is a top, front perspective view of a walker apparatus accordingto a second aspect, the walker apparatus including a folding mechanism,a seat assembly, and a brake assembly, the brake assembly including apair of spaced-apart brake cable housings;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, there is shown aheight-adjustable walker apparatus 20. The apparatus has a rear 22 and afront 24 best seen in FIG. 2. As seen in FIG. 1, the apparatus 20 has apair of spaced-apart sides 26 and 28, a top 30 and a bottom 32 which isspaced-apart from the top. The rear 22 and front 24 of the walkerapparatus extend between the sides 26 and 28 thereof and the top 30 andbottom 32 thereof. The top and bottom of the apparatus also extendbetween the sides 26 and 28 thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1, the walker apparatus 20 includes a pair ofspaced-apart, height/length-adjustable upright assemblies 34 and 36aligning with respective ones of the sides 26 and 28 thereof. Each ofthe upright assemblies has a lower end and an upper end, as seen bylower end 38 and upper end 40 for assembly 34. Each of the uprightassemblies is height adjustable in this example and telescopic, with alower outer elongate member or tube, and an upper inner elongate memberor tube shaped to fit within the lower tube. This is seen by outer tube42 and inner tube 44 for assembly 34.

As seen in FIG. 16, each of the inner tubes 44 has a plurality oflongitudinally spaced-apart apertures 46 which define a length L ofadjustment range. The walker apparatus 20 includes a pair of couplingmechanisms for selectively coupling the pairs of telescoping tubes 42and 44 together, in this example in the form of thumb screws 48. Thethumb screws are rotatably coupled to the outer tubes 42 in thisexample. Selective rotation of the thumb screws 48 causes the thumbscrews to be selectively inserted through one of said apertures 46 ofthe inner tube 44 to fixedly adjust the height of the telescoping tubes.This enables the height of the walker apparatus to be adjusted toprovide an optimized handlebar height for the user. The height of thewalker apparatus is thus adjustable from a retracted position of thetubes 42 and 44 seen in FIG. 15 to an extended position of the tubesseen in FIG. 16 as well as positions therebetween.

As seen in FIG. 6, each of the outer tubes 42 of the upright assemblies34 has an aperture 51 extending therein and which is slot shaped andobround in this example. The apertures face the front 24 of the walkerapparatus 20 in this example. Each aperture 51 is interposed between thelower end 38 and upper end 40 of its upright assembly 34. Each apertureis adjacent to and spaced-apart upwards from the corresponding end 38 ofits upright assembly.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the walker apparatus 20 includes a pair ofspaced-apart laterally-extending assemblies 50 and 52. Thelaterally-extending assemblies align with respective ones of the sides26 and 28 of the walker apparatus and extend from near the bottom 32towards the top 30 thereof. Each of the laterally-extending assembliesincludes a pair of spaced-apart, elongate upper and lower side members,with the upper side members being in the form of tubes 54 in thisexample and the lower side members being the form of rods 56 in thisexample. Each rod has a proximal end 58 coupled to corresponding outertube 42 and a distal end 60 spaced-apart from its proximal end. Each rod56 extends laterally-outwards and perpendicular from its correspondingouter tube 42 towards the front 24 of the walker apparatus 20, in thisexample. Each rod has a longitudinally-extending top 61 which facescorresponding tube 54 of its laterally-extending assembly 50. As seen inFIG. 15, the tops of the rods are curved at least in part in lateralcross-section and outwardly convex in lateral cross-section in thisexample.

Each tube 54 includes a substantially-straight portion 62 in thisexample which is coupled to and extends laterally-outwards fromcorresponding outer tube 42 towards the front 24 of the walker apparatus20. As seen in FIG. 6, aperture 51 of tube 42 is interposed and extendsbetween rod 56 and substantially-straight portion 62 of tube 54 and ispositioned adjacent to rod 56 in this example. Referring to FIG. 1, eachstraight portion 62 of the tubes 54 has a longitudinally-extendingbottom 63 which face the top 61 of its corresponding rod 56. The bottomsof the straight portions of the tubes 54 are curved at least in part inlateral cross-section and outwardly convex in lateral cross-section inthis example. As seen in FIG. 1, each tube 54 includes a curved portion64 in this example which couples to and is interposed between thestraight portion 62 thereof and distal end 60 of its corresponding rod56.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the walker apparatus includes foldingmechanism 66 in this example coupled to and extending between thelaterally-extending assemblies 50 and 52. The folding mechanism isconfigured to enable the walker apparatus 20 to selectively foldlaterally. The walker apparatus includes a seat assembly 68 whichextends between and couples to the straight portions 62 of tubes 54 ofthe laterally-extending assemblies 50 and 52 in this example. Thevarious parts and functionings of the folding mechanism 66 and seatassembly 68 are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,239, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

As seen in FIG. 1, the walker apparatus 20 includes a first or frontpair of ground-engageable wheels 70 operatively coupled to and pivotablerelative to the distal ends 72 of the curved portions 64 of tubes 54 byway of wheel forks 74. The walker apparatus includes a second or rearpair of ground-engageable wheels operatively coupled to and rotatablerelative to the lower ends of the upright assemblies. This is shown bywheel 76 operatively coupled to end 38 of assembly 34 via wheel fork 78.

The walker apparatus 20 includes a pair of brake assemblies forrespective ones of its second pair of ground-engageable wheels, as shownby brake assembly 80 for wheel 76 in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 4, each brake assembly includes a wheel-engaging brakemember 82. Each wheel-engaging brake member has a first end 84 and asecond end 86 spaced-apart from the first end. In this example eachwheel-engaging brake member 82 pivotally connects to its respectivewheel fork 78 at a pivot point 88 which is interposed between the firstand second ends of the wheel-engaging brake member. Each wheel-engagingbrake member 82 includes a brake pad 90 in this example coupled to andextending downwards from the first end 84 thereof. Each brake pad facesits corresponding wheel 76. Each wheel-engaging brake member 82 includesin this example a resilient member in the form of a coiled spring 92which extends about the pivot point 88 of the wheel-engaging brakemember. The coiled spring has an elongate end 94 which abuts a side wall96 of the wheel fork 78 in this example. The coiled spring 92 isconfigured to spring-bias the brake pad 90 upwards from wheel 76.

Each wheel-engaging brake member 82 includes a first bore 97 extendingtherethrough adjacent to the second end 86 thereof in this example. Eachwheel-engaging brake member includes a second bore 99 which is threadedin this example and which is adjacent to the second end thereof. Thesecond bore in communication with and which extends perpendicular tobore 97 in this example. Each brake assembly 80 includes a securingmechanism, in this example in the form of a set screw 107 that extendsthrough bore 99 and threadably engages therewith.

Each brake assembly 80 further includes a brake cable assembly, in thisexample in the form of bowden cable 98. The bowden cable includes aflexible, inner cable 100. As seen in FIG. 5, the inner cable has anupper or first end 101 with a protrusion, in this example nipple 102thereat. The nipple is cylindrical in shape in this example. As seen inFIG. 4, each inner cable 100 has a lower or second end 103. The secondend of the inner cable 100 is operatively coupled to the second end 86of wheel-engaging brake member 82 by portion 105 of the cable whichextends through bore 97 and thereafter by set screw 107 engaging withsaid portion 105. The set screw enables the tension of inner cable 100to be adjusted by lowering or elevating end 103 of the inner cable andthereafter securing the cable in place via the set screw.

As seen in FIG. 15, each bowden cable 98 is primarily enclosed withinits corresponding upright assembly 34 with a slack portion 109 thereofextending through the aperture 51 of the assembly 34. The slack portionof the brake cable assembly is a coiled section of the brake cableassembly that is loop-shaped in this example.

Referring to FIG. 5, each bowden cable 98 includes a flexible outercasing 108 through which the inner cable 100 extends and is moveablerelative thereto. The casing has a first end 110 seen in FIG. 5 and asecond end 112 seen in FIG. 4. Second end 112 of casing 108 isoperatively coupled to wheel fork 78 via a mount 114 through which innercable 100 extends. Each mount is tubular in this example with a first orupper sleeve 113 with a bore 115 extending therethrough. Each uppersleeve is shaped to extend about and receive corresponding end 112 ofits casing 108. Each mount 114 includes a second or lower sleeve 117coupled to and extending downwards from the upper sleeve 113 thereof.Each lower sleeve includes a bore 119 extending therethrough. Bore 119is shaped to slidably receive inner cable 100 therethrough, is incommunication with bore 115 and has a diameter that is smaller than thatof bore 115 in this example. Lower sleeve 117 is shaped to fit within aninner aperture 121 of the wheel fork 78, with upper sleeve 113 beingconfigured to abut portions 129 of the wheel fork adjacent to saidaperture 121.

Upward movement of inner cable 100 causes end 86 of wheel-engaging brakemember 82 to more upwards relative to FIG. 4, as shown by arrow ofnumeral 122. The upward movement of the cable in turn causes end 84 andbrake pad 90 of the wheel-engaging brake member to move downwards, asshown by arrow of numeral 123, for engaging the pad against the wheel 76and braking the wheel. Thus, each wheel-engaging brake member 82operatively connects to the lower end 38 of its upright assembly 34 seenin FIG. 1. The wheel-engaging brake member 82 as herein described is oneexample only for walker apparatus 20 and the brake assembly 80 may useother braking systems for the bowden cable 98 in other embodiments.

As seen in FIG. 1, the walker apparatus 20 includes a pair of handle barassemblies 124 and 125 coupled to the upper ends 40 of respective onesof the upright assemblies 34 and 36. The walker apparatus includes anarcuate-shaped backrest 127 in this example positioned along the front24 thereof. The backrest is in the shape of a flexible strap in thisexample and extends between and couples together the handle barassemblies 124 and 125.

Each of the handle bar assemblies, as seen by assembly 124 in FIG. 5;includes a first handle lever 126. Each first handle lever has a firstend 128 and a second end 136 spaced-apart from its first end. Each brakeassembly 80 includes a brake actuator, in this example in the form of agripping handle 130 coupled to and extending from end 128 of its lever126. Each handle bar assembly 124 has a handle bar housing 134. Eachfirst handle lever 126 is pivotally mounted via pivot 132 to saidhousing 134.

Each of the handle bar assemblies 124 includes a second handle lever138. Each second handle lever has a first end 142, a second end 144spaced-apart from its first end, a first side 143 facing casing 108 anda second side 145 opposite the first side. Ends 142 and 144 of the lever138 extend between sides 143 and 145 of the lever. Each second handlelever 138 is pivotally mounted to its corresponding handle bar housing134 via pivot 140 located adjacent to the first end 142 thereof. Secondend 136 of first handle lever 126 is positioned to be engageable withsecond handle lever 138 at a location 164 between ends 142 and 144 oflever 138.

Each handle bar assembly 124 includes a link 146 which pivotallyconnects first handle lever 126 to second handle lever 138 via pivot 148which is between ends 128 and 136 of the first handle lever, and pivot150 which is between ends 142 and 144 of the second handle lever. Lever138 has a tapered bore 152 extending therethrough in this exampleadjacent to end 144 thereof. The bore extends from side 143 towards side145 of the lever and is wider in cross-section at side 143 compared toits cross-section adjacent to side 145. Put another way, bore 152enlarges from side 145 to side 143 of the lever 138. Each lever 138further includes in this example a seat 153 that is partially sphericalin this example and which is in communication with bore 152. Each seat153 is adjacent and recessed relative to side 145.

First end 101 of inner cable 100 operatively couples to second end 144of lever 138, and thus operatively connects to gripping handle 130, byportion 154 of the inner cable adjacent to nipple 102 extending throughbore 152. Nipple 102 is larger than bore 152 and is shaped to bereceived by seat 153. As seen in FIG. 1, the gripping handles 130 thusoperatively connect to the upper ends 40 of their upright assemblies 34.The outwardly tapered nature of bore 152 enables portion 154 of theinner cable 100 to selectively tilt upwards and downwards as indicatedby arrow of numeral 157.

End 110 of casing 108 couples to handle bar housing 134 via a mount 156through which inner cable 100 extends. The mount is generally acylindrical in shape in this example and has a first side 159 facingcasing 108 and a second side 161 opposite the first side. Each mount 156includes in this example a seat 163 that is cylindrical in shape andrecessed relative to side 159 thereof. End 110 of casing 108 is shapedto be received within seat 163. Each mount also includes in this examplea tapered bore 165 which extends from side 161 towards side 159 thereof.The bore is wider in cross-section at side 161 relative to where thebore is adjacent to side 159. Put another way, bore 165 enlarges fromside 159 to side 161 of the mount 156. Bore 165 is in communication withseat 163. Portions 167 of inner cable 100 extend through bore 165 as thecable extends to nipple 102. The outwardly tapered nature of bore 165enables portions 167 of the inner cable 100 to selectively tilt upwardsand downwards as indicated by arrow of numeral 169.

In operation and referring to FIG. 5, upward movement of the grippinghandles 130, as shown by arrow of numeral 162, causes end 136 of lever126 to engage lever 138 at location 164 interposed between ends 142 and144 of lever 138. This causes lever 138 to selectively rotate towardsthe front 24 of the walker apparatus 20 in a clockwise directionrelative to FIG. 5 as shown by arrow of numeral 166. End 144 of lever138 and thus end 101 of inner cable 100 are pulled to the right relativeto FIG. 5 thereby. This causes the inner cable 100 to be actuated andmove relative to casing 108 for selectively actuating wheel-engagingbrake member 82 seen in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, each bowden cable 98 thus has a first end coupledto a first portion of an elongate assembly, in this example in the formof the wheel-engaging brake member 82 seen in FIG. 4 of upright assembly34 seen in FIG. 15. Referring to FIG. 5, each cable also has a secondend coupled to a second portion of the elongate assembly with the secondportion's positioning relative to the first portion being adjustable, inthis example in the form of handle bar assembly 124 for upright assembly34.

The gripping handle 130 seen in FIG. 5 and related linking assembly asherein described are one example only for walker apparatus 20 and thebrake assembly 80 may use other brake actuators for the bowden cable 98in other embodiments.

The walker apparatus 20 described to this stage is directed to oneexample of a walker apparatus and walker apparatuses of other shapes andconfigurations are possible, as would be clear to one skilled in theart. For example, the laterally-extending assemblies, handles, backrest,folding mechanism, wheel assemblies and seat assembly of the walkerapparatuses set out in U.S. Pat. No. 8,083,239 and U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/193,806 could be used in other embodiments, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 1, the walker apparatus 20 includes a pair of hollow,brake cable housings corresponding to respective ones of the uprightassemblies, as seen by brake cable housing 168 for upright assembly 34.As seen in FIG. 14, each housing is shaped to enclose the slack portions109 of its corresponding bowden cable 98. Each brake cable housing 168is generally in the shape of a hollow, rectangular prism in thisexample.

As seen in FIG. 9, each brake cable housing has an elongate top 170 andan upper peripheral edge portion 172 extending along the top. As seen inFIG. 11, the upper peripheral edge portion is u-shaped and outwardlyconcave in an upwards direction in this example. Referring to FIG. 14,the upper peripheral edge portion 172 of the housing 168 is shaped toalign with and receive the bottom 63 of the substantially-straightportion 62 of tube 54 in this example.

As seen in FIG. 10, each housing 168 has an elongate bottom 174 oppositeits top 170 and a lower peripheral edge portion 176 extending along saidbottom. As seen in FIG. 11, the lower peripheral edge portion 176 isu-shaped and outwardly concave in a downwards direction in this example.Referring to FIG. 14, the lower peripheral edge portion of the housing168 is shaped to align with, extend along in part and receive the top 61of rod 56 in this example. Each housing 168 is thus interposed andextends between corresponding rod 56 and correspondingsubstantially-straight portion 62 of tube 54.

Referring to FIG. 9, each housing 168 further includes a rear 178 whichextends between the top 170 and bottom 174 thereof and which isgenerally u-shaped in cross-section in this example. As seen in FIG. 14,the rear of the housing extends along and is shaped to abut and receivea portion 180 of tube 42 of its corresponding upright assembly 34extending between the tube 54 and rod 56.

As seen in FIG. 9, each brake cable housing 168 includes a hollowprotrusion 182 which extends outwards from rear 178 thereof. Eachprotrusion includes a peripheral rim portion 181 which couples to andextends outwards from the rear of the housing. The rim portion isobround in this example as best seen in FIG. 11. Rim portion 181 isshaped to fit within oblong aperture 51 of tube 42 as seen in FIG. 6. Asseen in FIG. 14, portions 53 of tube 42 extending around the apertureare configured to snugly abut with the rim portion 181 in this example.

As seen in FIG. 9, the protrusion includes a lower section 177 that isgenerally in the shape of a right triangular prism in this example andwhich couples to and extends outwards from rim portion 181. Eachprotrusion 182 includes an elongate bottom 183 which aligns with and isadjacent to bottom 174 of housing 168. The lower section 177 of theprotrusion includes a pair of spaced-apart planar sides 185 and 187which are generally triangular in shape in this example. The sides ofthe protrusion 182 extend from the bottom 183 of the protrusion towardsthe top 170 of the housing 168. As seen in FIG. 11, sides 185 and 187are inwardly spaced-apart from and extend in parallel with sides 186 and188 of housing 168 in this example.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, each protrusion includes a pair ofresilient members, in this example in the form of resilient tabs 189 and191 outwardly extending from respective ones of sides 185 and 187. Asseen in FIG. 14, the tabs are shaped to outwardly abut portions adjacentportions 55 of tube 42 when the lower section 177 of the protrusion 182is positioned within aperture 51 of the tube 42.

As seen in FIG. 9, the lower section 177 of protrusion 182 includes arear 195 which is slanted in this example and which extends from bottom183 towards the top 197 of rim portion 181. Rear 195 is elongate andextends between sides 185 and 187 of the lower section 177 of theprotrusion. Each protrusion includes a recessed aperture 193 extendingthrough rear 195 of lower section 177 thereof. The aperture isinterposed between the sides 185 and 187 and bottom 183 of theprotrusion.

As seen in FIG. 14 and mentioned above, the lower section 177 ofprotrusion 182 extends through aperture 51 of the corresponding tube 42for mounting the brake cable housing 168 to the upright assembly 34. Asseen in FIG. 1, each brake cable housing 168 thus operatively connectsto its corresponding upright assembly 34 at a location between itsgripping handle 130 and wheel-engaging brake member 82.

As best seen in FIG. 12, each housing 168 has a front 184 spaced-apartfrom the rear 178 thereof as best seen in FIG. 11. Referring back toFIG. 12, the front of the housing extends between the top 170 and bottom174 thereof. As seen in FIG. 15, the front 184 of the housing 168 issubstantially vertically-extending and straight in this example.

The brake cable housings have inner sides which face each other, as seenin FIG. 8 by inner side 186 for housing 168. Each housing includes anouter side 188 facing opposite from its inner side. The inner and outersides of the housing 168 are substantially planar and rectangular inthis example and extend between the top 170, bottom 174, rear 178 andfront 184 of the housing.

As seen in FIG. 11, each brake cable housing 168 includes a first part190 which extends between top 170, bottom 174, rear and front thereofand which extends from its inner side 186 towards outer side 188. Asseen in FIG. 1, the first part of the housing extends between and abutsrod 56 and portion 62 of tube 54 at a first or inner side 196 thereofseen in FIG. 2.

As seen in FIG. 9, each brake cable housing 168 includes a second part192 that is complementary to, selectively connectable to and selectivelyremovable from part 190. Parts 190 and 192 are respective halves of thehousing in this example though this is not strictly required. Part 192extends between the top 170, bottom 174, rear 178 and front 184 of thehousing 168, and extends from the outer side 188 of the housing towardsthe inner side 186 of the housing. Part 192 is shaped to selectivelycouple with part 190 via a plurality of fasteners 194 in this example asseen in FIG. 8. As seen in FIG. 1, part 192 extends between and abutsrod 56 and portion 62 of tube 54 at a second or outer side thereof 198.The brake cable housing 168 selectively couples to its correspondinglaterally-extending assembly 50 of the walker apparatus 20 thereby.

As seen in FIG. 14, each brake cable housing 168 has an interior space200 that is generally crescent-shaped in this example. Each brake cablehousing has an outer portion 202 which extends along the top 170, bottom174, rear 178, and front 184 thereof and, as seen in FIG. 11, betweensides 186 and 188 thereof. As seen in FIG. 14, the outer portion 202 ofthe housing has an inner peripheral edge 204 which encloses the interiorspace 200 thereof along with the sides of the housing. The innerperipheral edge of the outer portion is inwardly concave and isgenerally tear-drop shaped in this example. The outer portion 202 of thehousing has a central axis 206 in this example.

Each housing 168 includes an inner portion 208 positioned within theinterior space 200 thereof. The inner portion of the housing has anouter peripheral edge 210 which is outwardly convex in this example. Theinner portion 208 of the housing 168 has a central axis 212 which isaxially offset from the central axis 206 of the outer portion 202 of thehousing.

As seen in FIG. 14, the brake cable housing 168 receives slack portion109 of bowden cable 98 within interior space 200 thereof. The brakecable housing includes an upper passageway 214 within the interior spacethereof. The upper passageway extends from the rear 178 of the housingadjacent to aperture 51 towards the top 170 and front 184 of thehousing. The upper passageway 214 is downwardly concave in shape in thisexample. The upper passageway is shaped to receive excess portions 216of the bowden cable 98 extending from the wheel-engaging brake member 82and thus lower end 103 of inner cable 100 seen in FIG. 4.

Referring back to FIG. 14, the brake cable housing 168 includes a lowerpassageway 218 within the interior space 200 thereof. Aperture 193 oflower section 177 of protrusion 182 is part of the lower passageway inthis example. The lower passageway 218 thus extends through protrusion182 of the housing 168 in this example towards the bottom 174 and front184 of the housing. The lower passageway 218 is upwardly concave inshape in this example. The lower passageway 218 is shaped to receiveexcess portions 220 of bowden cable 98 extending from the grippinghandle 130 as seen in FIG. 5 and thus extending from end 101 of innercable 100.

As seen in FIG. 14, each brake cable housing 168 includes a chamber 222within the interior space 200 thereof. The chamber is interposed betweenand in communication with the passageways 214 and 218. Thecross-sectional widths of the upper passageway and the lower passagewaytaper so as to increase as the passageways extend from the uprightassembly 34 towards the chamber 222. This is shown by width W₁ ofpassageway 218 adjacent to tube 42 being smaller than width W₂ of thepassageway 218 adjacent chamber 222. The chamber is shaped to receivefurther excess portions 224 of bowden cable 98 coupled to and integrallyformed with excess portions 216 and 220 thereof. The chamber 222 isconcave in this example in a direction facing the upper passageway 214and the lower passageway 218. The chamber is larger in volume andcross-section width W₃ compared to the upper passageway 214 and comparedto the lower passageway 218.

In operation and referring to FIG. 15, slack portion 109 of bowden cable98 abuts the inner peripheral edge 204 of the outer portion 202 of itscorresponding housing 168 when the walker apparatus 20 is its retractedposition. As seen in FIG. 14, the slack portion of the bowden cable 98extends at least in part between the outer peripheral edge 210 of theinner portion 208 of housing 168 and inner peripheral edge 204 of outerportion 202 of the housing when the walker apparatus 20 is in anintermediate position between the retracted position seen in FIG. 15 andthe extended position seen in FIG. 16.

As seen in FIG. 16, slack portion 109 of bowden cable 98 abuts the outerperipheral edge 210 of the inner portion 208 of its correspondinghousing 168 when the walker apparatus 20 is its extended position. Theslack portion 109 of bowden cable 98 is a larger loop in shape when thewalker apparatus 20 is in its retracted position seen in FIG. 15compared to the size of the loop shape of portion 109 of the cable whenthe walker apparatus is in its extended position seen in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 shows a height-adjustable walker apparatus 20.1 according to asecond aspect. Like parts have like numbers and functions as theheight-adjustable walker apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 16 with theaddition of decimal extension “0.1”. Walker apparatus 20.1 issubstantially the same as walker apparatus 20 shown in FIGS. 1 to 16with the following exceptions. Front 184.1 of the housing 168.1 isoutwardly convex in a direction facing the front 24.1 of the walkerapparatus 20.1 in this example instead of being substantiallyvertically-extending and straight in this example like front 184 ofhousing 168 seen in FIG. 1.

It will be appreciated that many variations are possible within thescope of the invention described herein. It will also be understood bysomeone skilled in the art that many of the details provided above areby way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention which is to be determined with reference to at least thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A walker apparatus, comprising: aheight-adjustable assembly; at least one elongate side member coupled toand extending outwards from the height-adjustable assembly; a brakecable assembly primarily extending along the height-adjustable assembly;and a brake cable housing abutting, extending along, and receiving aportion of at least one of the height-adjustable assembly and saidelongate side member, a slack portion of the brake cable assembly beingenclosed by the brake cable housing, wherein the brake cable housingabuts and extends along both the height-adjustable assembly and the atleast one elongate side member.
 2. A walker apparatus comprising: aheight-adjustable assembly; at least one elongate side member coupled toand extending outwards from the height-adjustable assembly; a brakecable assembly primarily extending along the height-adjustable assembly;and a brake cable housing abutting, extending along, and receiving aportion of at least one of the height-adjustable assembly and saidelongate side member, a slack portion of the brake cable assembly beingenclosed by the brake cable housing, wherein the brake cable housingcomprises a rear side having an upper passageway shaped to receive theslack portion of the brake cable assembly extending from a lower end ofa brake cable assembly, and a lower passageway shaped to receive theslack portion of the brake cable assembly extending from a brakeactuator of the walker apparatus.
 3. The walker apparatus as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the slack portion of the brake cable assembly isloop-shaped.
 4. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein thebrake cable housing includes a chamber which extends between and is incommunication with said passageways.
 5. The walker apparatus as claimedin claim 4, wherein the upper passageway is downwardly concave in shapeand wherein the lower passageway is upwardly concave in shape.
 6. Thewalker apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the chamber is concavein shape in a direction facing the upper passageway and the lowerpassageway.
 7. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein thechamber is larger than the upper passageway and larger the lowerpassageway.
 8. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein theupper passageway and the lower passageway have cross-sectional widths,the cross-sectional widths of the upper passageway and the lowerpassageway increasing in a direction extending from theheight-adjustable assembly and towards the chamber.
 9. The walkerapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing has an interiorspace that is generally crescent-shaped.
 10. The walker apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the height-adjustable assembly has anaperture interposed between a lower end and an upper end of theheight-adjustable assembly, the slack portion of the brake cableassembly extending through said aperture of the height-adjustableassembly, and wherein the brake cable housing couples to and extendsoutwards from the height-adjustable assembly.
 11. The walker apparatusas claimed in claim 2, wherein the walker apparatus has a front, andwherein the height-adjustable assembly has an aperture through which theslack portion of the brake cable assembly extends, the aperture of theheight-adjustable assembly being slot-shaped and facing the front of thewalker apparatus.
 12. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 2,wherein the height-adjustable assembly includes a pair of telescopingtubes and wherein the brake cable housing extends along and is shaped toabut a portion of one of said tubes.
 13. The walker apparatus as claimedin claim 2, wherein the brake cable housing includes a peripheral edgeportion that is u-shaped in cross-section and abuts said at least one ofthe height-adjustable assembly and the elongate side member via saidperipheral edge portion.
 14. The walker apparatus as claimed in claim 2,wherein the height-adjustable assembly includes a lower elongate memberand an upper elongate member shaped to fit within the lower elongatemember, and wherein excess portions of the brake cable assembly enterand exit the brake cable housing at locations below the upper elongatemember of the height-adjustable assembly.
 15. The walker apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the brake cable assembly abuts an outerperipheral edge of an inner portion of the housing when the walkerapparatus is in an extended position and the brake cable assembly abutsan inner peripheral edge of an outer portion of the housing when thewalker apparatus is in a retracted position.
 16. The walker apparatus asclaimed in claim 15, wherein the inner peripheral edge of the outerportion of the housing is inwardly concave and the outer peripheral edgeof the inner portion of the housing is outwardly convex.
 17. A walkerapparatus comprising: a height-adjustable assembly of elongate members,the height-adjustable assembly having an upper end, a lower endspaced-apart from the upper end, and an aperture interposed between theupper end and the lower end thereof; a brake actuator operativelycoupled to the upper end of the height-adjustable assembly; a brakemember operatively coupled to the lower end of the height-adjustableassembly; a pair of spaced-apart elongate side members coupled to andextending laterally-outwards from the height-adjustable assembly; abrake cable housing operatively connecting to the height-adjustableassembly at a location between the brake actuator and the brake member,the brake cable housing being interposed between said side members andincluding an upper peripheral edge portion and a lower peripheral edgeportion, the upper peripheral edge portion and the lower peripheral edgeportion of the brake cable housing being u-shaped in cross-section andbeing shaped to abut with and receive respective ones of said sidemembers for coupling to the walker apparatus thereby; and a brake cableassembly including a flexible, inner cable and a flexible, outer casingthrough which the inner cable extends and is moveable relative thereto,the inner cable having a first end operatively connected to the brakeactuator and a second end operatively connected to the brake member, thebrake cable assembly being primarily enclosed within theheight-adjustable assembly with a slack portion of the brake cableassembly extending through the aperture of the height-adjustableassembly and being enclosed within the brake cable housing.